The two sat down for a conversation moderated by NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Tuesday to discuss partisanship, political violence, and how to respectfully engage with political opponents.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Pennsylvania legislators are among the highest paid in the country. The average pay for a state lawmaker nationally is $47,904, but that includes part-time legislatures.
After a months-long state budget impasse that resulted in no new recurring funding for mass transit agencies, Shapiro announced that he’s sending an additional $220 million to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to fund repairs and infrastructure projects meant to improve safety.
The new state budget includes new funding and policies for public schools, primarily, they’re based around increasing oversight of cyber charter schools, increasing the amount of money doled out through the state’s adequacy formula and recruiting and retaining teachers as the commonwealth faces a shortage.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a $50.1 billion state budget Wednesday after intensive meetings between Republican and Democratic lawmakers in recent weeks. They had been deadlocked for nearly five months since the June 30 deadline.
Premiums are expected to nearly double or even triple in some cases for almost 500,000 Pennsylvanians if tax credits expire.
Lawmakers made a series of moves to advance a reported $50.1 billion spending, but few details have emerged.
Unemployment recipients eligible for benefits under the legislation would have to provide a recent protective order or other reasonable evidence.
A Chinese boycott of U.S. soybeans is only the latest issue facing farmers. Labor shortages, soaring equipment costs and unpredictable weather have also taken their toll.
The state Senate passed a bill that would allow Pennsylvania lottery winners to remain anonymous when collecting a prize of $100,000 or more.
